A "mickey" is slang for a roasted potato, but Frederick, Maryland farmer Rick Brown found a Mickey in one that was just out of the ground.
Just over a week ago, Brown slowly knocked the dirt off one of his spuds. He looked at it. An image of Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse looked back.
"I didn't even have to use my imagination. I knew right away what it was," he told Sunday's Frederick News-Post.
For over three decades, Brown has been living in the house where he grew up and harvesting such basic crops as lima beans, tomatoes, corn... and potatoes.
Brown has had a reasonably good growing season, raising about eight bushels of potatoes and over 300 ears of corn. The Mickey potato, however, is some sort of first.
After encountering Mickey Mouse in a root vegetable, he said, he showed his neighbors, who were equally awestruck. He took it to work the next day and showed it to amazed colleagues.
Although Brown says that he usually eats his crops, he wants Mickey Mouse to stay permanent.
Normally, potatoes will rot after being kept for several months. He's trying to find a way to preserve Mickey in the meantime.
Brown said that he thought of freezing the mouse-potato. However, he's prefer a more certain method, such as surrounding it in a glass case or using a polymer-based sealant.
Farmer Brown says he'll watch his garden for other veggies that resemble famous cartoon characters.
Be sure to get a good look at the "eyes"... If they have pupils it's "Later" Mickey; if they don't it's "Early" Mickey and you can put "Mickey Potato" (or is it "po-tah-to") on a T-Shirt without repercussions!
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"I'd like to cover you with furs and automobiles!"
Hi Everyone this is Rick Brown finder of the Mickey Potato. Hey to the folks in Frederick they are welcomed to come and look at it when they like. I am still looking into ways of preserving. It was fun last week. My clip showed up on several national show including Countdown on MSNBC on the oddball segment. It was funny.
I've seen these "green bags" advertised on TV that supposedly inhibit the release of a certain natural gas that is emitted by fruits and vegetables (bananas especially) as they age and which contributes to their spoilage. The bags are supposed to keep produce looking fresher for a much longer period of time. Maybe you could put "Mickey" into one of these bags for the time being until you figure out a way to preserve it.
I was going to suggest drying it out, but that might severely alter the appearance beyond recognition. Make sure you get plenty of photographs from all angles and take numerous other measurements; just in case something unfortunate should happen to it, there will still be plenty of evidence remaining as to its existence.
The problem with spuds is that they sprout roots over time, even when left in a cool, dark place. You may have to give "Mickey" a shave after awhile (!)
I remember I once inadvertently left some potatoes sitting in a plastic bag in one of my kitchen cupboards and at one point forgot about them. Over time they started to liquify. Well, the bag had a couple of holes in it and the rancid "potato juice" leaked all over the cupbord shelf! The worst part was that the shelves were made of unfinished particle-board, which meant that the stench was ultimately absorbed into the wood... I had to scrub the shelves with disinfectant cleaner and air them out for over a week... ugh!
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"I'd like to cover you with furs and automobiles!"
(This post was edited by zavkram on Aug 27, 2008, 9:22 AM)
Re: Maryland farmer discovers Mickey Mouse in potato
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